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News from Rep. Stephanie Herseth
For Immediate Release
Contact: Russ Levsen, 202-225-9907

HERSETH STATEMENT ON RETURN OF CHARLIE BATTERY

September 22, 2006, Washington, D.C. - U.S. Rep. Stephanie Herseth released the following statement today regarding the announced return of Battery C, 1st Battalion, 147th Field Artillery. After serving for one year in Iraq, Charlie Battery, which is headquartered in Yankton, is scheduled to arrive at McGuire Air Force Base in New Jersey on Saturday, September 23rd.

Rep. Herseth will travel to McGuire AFB tomorrow to personally greet the troops as they return to the United States.

Rep. Herseth said, "The men and women of Charlie Battery are American heroes who have served their country with distinction and honor. As we welcome them home, our hearts are filled with gratitude and joy, but also carry a heavy burden as we remember those members of Charlie who lost their lives during this war. Our thoughts and prayers are also with those soldiers of the 147th who suffered serious injuries while serving our country."

Herseth added, "Tomorrow, I'm looking forward to seeing these brave soldiers in person. I had the chance to see some of them in Iraq, and it will be good to share handshakes, hugs and smiles again tomorrow at McGuire Air Force Base."

Charlie Battery performed superbly during their tour in Iraq. Charlie Battery was activated in June 2005. Its mission was to train and evaluate the Iraqi Police Force in Baghdad. Throughout the year, the soldiers of Charlie Battery performed police transition team missions with the Iraqi Police. They conducted joint patrols that included route security and reconnaissance missions in eastern Baghdad, rescue and recovery mission, and convoy wrecker support missions within the capital city and south into Kuwait. Three U.S. Army units that were new to the area also were trained by Charlie Battery to learn the unit's specialized missions.

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